Happy New Year! Winter is here again. A time to rest, and hope that the bees make it to spring. In Eastern Washington, winter looks a lot like Spring this year. No snow, and warmer than average temperatures will make winter feeding a high priority for those who wish to keep their bees going until the real Spring arrives.
Is beekeeping a safe activity in the Spokane and Inland Empire metropolis and surrounding urban residential areas? Here is what some folks in another urban area have to say.
If you have just found the IEBA and are looking for information on beekeeping in the northwest, join us at one of the meetings to get the latest local apiary news, straight from the beekeepers mouth.
Our aim is to promote the world of honeybees and apicultural activities. For anyone interested in learning more about beekeeping, we invite you to join us at our monthly meeting. The Association is located in Spokane, Washington and holds meetings on the second Friday of each month. The meetings are that the Spokane County WSU Ag Extension Office on Havana in Spokane, Washington. The meeting starts at 6:30 PM with Officers and Board meetings. At 7:00 PM is social time and at 7:30 PM the general meeting starts. The IEBA is a member of the Washington State Beekeepers Association who keep their home at http://www.wasba.org.
Why do winter inspections? What do you look for to see if a hive is in trouble?
Quick lift on hive and hive seems light No flight activity on warm days Put your ear to hive/check for life Excessive defecation on exterior hive surfaces Excessive amounts of dead bees Clogging entrance Front of hive Curiosity Conditions for performing inspections If sunny pick any day bees are flying If cloudy pick a warm day 40 to 50F Preferably with bees flying.
What if bees are clustered?
Generally stay out if clustered unless they are nearly out of feed If they are out of feed they will die You can get into the hive sometimes without disturbing the cluster Determine store situation View top of frames to see if there is honey in any of the frames Look at bottom of frames by tipping the top box up If there is a large cluster best extending into bottom box best to not lift top box splitting the cluster Mid-January you should have at least 6 frames half full of honey for a large cluster This is insufficient to supply honey for build up but will get you to first good flight days.
How to add honey:
Method1: Remove all frames without bees on them Frames 1 & 9 are box edges (positions 1 & 9) Inspect for honey Plan to center the cluster in the center of the box Replace empty combs with honey Replace combs only 1/8 to 1/4 full with full combs of honey Combs 1/2 full or so you can put in positions 1 and 9 Move the combs having bees to box center Best to have an equivalent of approximately 5 full combs of honey Move combs from another hive or saved comb 5 full combs is only 20 lbs (deep super) or 15 lbs (Western super) Bees will need more feed in March Emergency feeding during the winter Candy board feeder Make a 2" high rim around a piece of 1/4" plywood or 1/8" masonite Mix sugar, honey and water in the proportions of 25# sugar, 3.75# honey and 2.6# water Heat to 240oF (For you candy makers--just about hard ball stage is good) Pour mixture into rim Place on hive on top of cluster Feeding dry sugar Method 1 Place dry sugar above inner cover with a rim Bees will come through inner cover hole to feed on sugar
Method 2: Place 3/8" sticks on top box frames and lay newspaper with holes over sticks Pour dry sugar on newspaper Method 3 Block spaces between outer frames with aluminum foil Fill space above aluminum foil with dry sugar
Note that sugar candy and dry sugar require moisture for the bees to be able to use the feed. If no moisture is available the feed cannot be used by the bees.
The annual Basic Beekeeping class is a three phase practical training consisting of a classroom session, and multiple practicums which are scheduled to take place at the IEBA queen rearing yard.
This class is a family-oriented, in-depth study of beekeeping, and is open to all age levels . For beekeepers in the city of Spokane, this class meets the requirements for urban beekeepers in the city of Spokane. Additionally, the class prepares students for the Washington State beekeeping exam. After each Phase of Instructions, students will be given the certification tests for those lessons. Students may ake the test immediately and have them graded on site or take them home. After completing the test mail it to the Master Beekeeper representative.
Topics covered include:
The World of Beekeeping
The Honey Bee & Her Products
Bee Biology
Beekeeping Equipment
Making a Start in Beekeeping
Life in the Honey Bee Colony
Flowers for Bees
Spring Management
Honey Bee Nutrition
Construction of Boxes, Frames, and Foundation (Hands-on)
Summer Management & Honey Production
Fall Management
Honey Extraction and Wax Processing
Processing and Packaging Techniques
Honey Bee Diseases and Pests
Honey Bee Mites
Pollination, Queen Rearing, and Honey Bee Products Marketing
The class is open to anyone interested in becoming a beekeeper, as well as those already involved in the art and science of beekeeping.
For more information, contact Joan Nolan
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at (509) 924-3652, or Penny Simonson
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at (509) 477-2183.
The WSU Extension office in Spokane County County Extension Education Center 222 North Havana Street Spokane, WA 99202 (509) 477-2048
If you are planning on attending as a family, do not miss out on this incredible experience and opportunity in 2010!.
This site is hosted and sponsored by Pierce Law Office - Spokane, WA and
Zia Construction & Contracting, Inc. - Spokane, WA
The Bee Mail is a non-profit resource for Washington beekeepers, Spokane and North Idaho honey producers, and beekeeping enthusiasts.
Inlandbeemail.com provides information on: Spokane and Eastern Washington, local honey, honey bees, beekeeping, organic honey farming, beekeeping equipment, honeybee journals, the honey market, how to make and market honey, Washington beekeepers associations, education, scholarships, classified ads, forums, events, apiary management, queen rearing, education,pollination, honey grading and honeycomb.
IEBA Meeting Mintues 2011
2011 Basic Beekeeping Class Brochure and Application (
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